Meryl Streep & Viola Davis Are Fast Friends Since Meeting In 2008 Film 'Doubt'

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Close friends Meryl Streep and Viola Davis

Moving towards the stage to accept her award for best supporting actress at Sunday night's Oscars, Viola Davis stopped to give Meryl Streep an affectionate kiss and hug. Vanity Fair writes that their friendship is one of the most public and vocally supporting relationships in Hollywood. 

Streep and Davis first worked together in the 2008 film 'Doubt'. Accepting her 2009 SAG award for best actress in 'Doubt', Streep channeled all her diva powers, calling out "the gigantically gifted Viola Davis." Raising her arms to the heavens, Streep implored the audience, "My God, somebody give her a movie!". Three years later Davis starred in 'The Help' and was nominated for Best Actress, only to lose to . . . Meryl Streep, who won for 'The Iron Lady'. Such an event would dampen the enthusiasm of most friendships, but not these two women.

The next morning Streep donated $20,000 in Davis' name, shared between the Segue Institute for Learning, an in-need charter school in Davis's hometown of Rhode Island and a college-prep program Upward Bound.

When Davis received her Hollywood Walk of Fame star in January 2017, Streep opened the event, with choice comments about her friend. “Viola Davis is possessed. She is possessed to the blazing, incandescent power. She is arguably the most immediate, responsive artist I have ever worked with,” Streep said. She then went on to describe Davis’s ability to be “so alive she glistens” and to “write paragraphs with her eyes.”

Laurence des Cars Named New Director Of Musée d’Orsay in Paris

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Laurence des Cars. Photo ©Sophie Boegly.

Laurence des Cars was named the new director of the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, officially appointed by French President Francois Hollande on February 27. Currently the director of the Musée de l’Orangerie, des Cars will assume her new post on March 15, for a tenure of at least five years.

Le Monde reports that des Cars’s appointment is also significant in that she’s only the second woman curator to head a major Paris museum, alongside Sophie Makariou at the Musée Guimet.

Netflix's 'The White Helmets' About Syrian Crisis Takes Home First Oscar Win

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Netflix's 'The White Helmets' About Syrian Crisis Takes Home First Oscar Win

Netflix's film 'The White Helmets', the story of volunteer rescue workers in Syria, took home the Oscar for Best Documentary Short Sunday.  The victory was a wonderful first win for Netflix, distributor of the film. 

The 40-minute film follows three rescue workers with the White Helmets -- also known as the Syrian Civil Defense -- who train in Turkey to provide emergency medical assistance to civilians caught in Syria's civil war.

AOC has tracked in the month of Feb. efforts to bring cinematographer and press officer for the White Helmets Khaled Khatib to the US.  The leader of the White Helmets Raed Saleh was also unable to obtain the necessary travel documents. There is no doubt that the two men were originally caught up in the Trump administration's Muslim ban.  The situation appeared to be on the verge of resolution but fell apart again days before the Oscars. 

Meryl Streep Is Furious With Karl Lagerfeld's Calling Her 'Cheap' & Ruining Her 20th Oscar Nomination Celebration

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The superb actor and feminist Meryl Streep showcased her Elie Saab off-the-shoulder peacock blue fashion statement at the Oscars. Streep is being honored for her 20th nomination for her role in 'Florence Foster Jenkins'. 

The activist actor was not amused at the accusations leveled against her by Chanel's Karl Lagerfeld that Streep commissioned a custom Chanel creation but cancelled it when the House refused to pay her to wear it. 

A representative for Streep fought back that Lagerfeld's statement was false and that it is against her personal ethics to be paid to wear a gown on the red carpet. Lagerfeld, who I personally believe has no time for Meryl Streep's feminist activism, subsequently admitted that the error was his and that he regretted the controversy. But Meryl dismissed Lagerfeld's so-called apology, saying that his comments has eclipsed her celebration-worthy 20th nomination. 

"I do not take this lightly, and Mr. Lagerfeld's generic 'statement' of regret for this 'controversy' was not an apology," her statement read. 

The imperious Karl Lagerfeld is accustomed to having the last word on everything and Streep wasn't having it. Bravo, Meryl! She accused the designer of defaming her -- which he certainly did suggesting that she accepted bribes to wear clothes --, her stylist and the "illustrious designer" (Elie Saab) whose dress she chose to wear. Streep also castigated WWD for printing the "defamation" in the first place. 

The story received global attention, Streep said, and continues "to overwhelm my appearance at the Oscars, on the occasion of my record-breaking 20th nomination, and to eclipse this honour in the eyes of the media, my colleagues and the audience."

The always haughty Lagerfeld told WWD: "“After we gift her a dress that’s €100,000, we found later we had to pay,” he said. “We give them dresses, we make the dresses, but we don’t pay ... A genius actress, but cheapness also, no?”

A spokesperson for Chanel said that they had engaged in conversations with Streep’s stylist to design a dress for her to wear to the Academy Awards, but were well aware that she was considering options from other design houses: “When informed by the stylist that Ms Streep had chosen a dress by another designer there was no mention of the reason. Chanel wishes to express our continued and deep respect for Ms Streep.” 

I suspect that Meryl Streep is up to her nostrils with self-important men. President Trump unleashed a Tweet storm against her earlier in the awards season. Trump & Lagerfeld actually make good company. ~ Anne

Best Oscar Glamour Accessory Is ACLU Blue Ribbon & 'Stand with the ACLU Campaign'

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'Loving' star Ruth Negga in Govenchy & her ACLU blue ribbon.

'Loving' star Ruth Negga in Govenchy & her ACLU blue ribbon.

The hottest fashion accessory at tonight's Oscars is a blue ribbon in support of America's Constitutional rights. Loving star Ruth Negga pinned her ribbon to a Valentino dress as part of the new 'Stand with the ACLU' campaign.

Supermodel Karlie Kloss is wearing her blue ribbon as are Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda (left) and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Now that the ACLU is a free-of-charge Silicon Valley incubator, the best digital culture minds, along with research programmers -- all the best from Google, Apple and other greats will be teaching them how to expand their reach and raising the funds to help make it happen.

Nominees, presenters, musicians and guests are encouraged to wear the ribbon to show their support “for the rights and civil liberties guaranteed by the Constitution to everyone in the United States,” the ACLU statement reads.

I hope Trump Tweets: "What's with those stupid blue ribbons! They are ugly, baby! What morons!"

Karlie Kloss wears Stella McCartney and her ACLU blue ribbon.

Dr. Luz Towns-Miranda (left) and Lin-Manuel Miranda. of 'Hamilton' wear their ACLU ribbons.

Missoni Closes Milan Fashion Week With Sea of Pussyhats

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The global fashion industry has moved on to Paris, but Angela Missoni's grand finale in Milan inspired cheers, tears, and a global femme-power fashion salute, as Planned Parenthood pins at over 40 of the New York shows were replaced by pink Pussyhats in Missoni's exuberant grand finale for Milan. Missoni added her family's signature zig-zagging prints and bold stripes to her must-have fashion accessory, but the pointed ears and bold pink color left no doubt that the hats were inspired by the American-bred, global Women's Marches the day after Donald Trump's inauguration, January 21, 2017. In America the marches are considered to be the biggest ever, and the momentum continues. 

Petra Collins, Hari Nef, Lena Dunham: From Gucci to Planned Parenthood Via Lenny Letter

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Petra Collins, Hari Nef, Ali Micheal

Petra Collins, Hari Nef, Lena Dunham: From Gucci to Planned Parenthood Via Lenny Letter

Petra's commitment to body sovereignty was on display in this October 2012 Planned Parenthood video 'You Don't Own Me', published as a motivator to American women to vote in the 2012 presidential election.

In January 2016, Lena Dunham's Lenny Letter published 'Hypervisibility', in which Hari Nef reflects "on being a visible member of a marginalized community."  A year later, Nef joined a '100 Years' Planned Parenthood tribute narration cast that includes Meryl Streep, Jennifer Lawrence, America Ferrera, Constance Wu, Mindy Kaling and many more. Kirsten Lepore handled the animation; Abrams and musician Jack Antonoff contributed music.

The film '100 Years', The History of 100 Years of Women's Health Care at Planned Parenthood, was produced by Dunham and J.J. Abrams . 

“This film reminds us of the tremendous progress that’s been made for women’s health and rights just days before the new president is inaugurated — and at a moment when extreme politicians are trying to defund and shut down Planned Parenthood,” Dunham wrote in a note for Lenny Letter.

Lena Dunham, Hari Nef

Cameron Russell Helped Launch 'The Models March' By Victor Demarchelier For The Edit Feb. 23, 2017

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Cameron Russell Helped Launch 'The Models' March By Victor Demarchelier For The Edit Feb. 23, 2017

Top model Cameron Russell is devoted to public activism and maintaining a strong voice in the fashion industry. From a TED Talk about how models can maintain their own self-image in a fashion industry that loves mannequins to protesting climate change, Cameron Russell embraces issues with the knowledge that she has the power to influence change. Interviewed by The Edit, Russell explains her own path to protest and why we should join her.

Cameron Russell is styled in polished utilitarian looks by Alison Edmond. Photographer Victor Demarchelier is in the studio capturing 'The Model's March' (clearly inspired by the world's January 21, 2017 Women's Marches) for The Edit, February 23, 2017.

Related: Cameron Russell Says Privilege & Insecurity Make Modeling A Bad Career Choice AOC Body

Milo Yiannopoulos: Out At Breitbart, Out At CPAC & Out Of A Book Deal, The Showman Will Rise Again. Shed No Tears for Milo

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Milo Yiannopoulos Resigns From Breitbart News After Pedophilia Comments The New York Times

We don't want to spend too much time updating Milo Yiannopoulos's 24-hour horror story, except to say that Milo's career had an update Tuesday, February 21. In a mind-boggling 24-hr downfall, Mr. Yiannopoulos lost his speaking engagement at this weekend's conservative CPAC conference; had his publisher Simon & Schuster cancel the publication of his upcoming book 'Dangerous', and today -- with six Bretbart reporters ready to resign if he didn't -- Milo stepped down from his job as senior editor at Breitbart News. 

As Trump, Bannon & Company try to rip America to shreds, something good actually happened. Milo Yiannopoulos isn't one to say he's sorry. Refusing the niceties of and decency and civility, the big personality man boy very capable of baiting the left and with zero inhibitions about any form of self-censorship, Milo appeared in Lower Manhattan looking remarkably sober in Lower Manhattan today. 

“I don’t think I’ve been as sorry about anything in my whole life.”

"His glib remarks about pedophilia by Roman Catholic priests and his endorsement of sexual relations with boys as young as 13 drew widespread condemnation from many of the conservatives who had long stood by him, even as he offended so many others with his insulting remarks about Hispanics, African-Americans, Muslims and Jews," writes the New York Times.

It's amazing that women somehow never to make the list. Milo Yiannopoulos loathes women, especially smart, brainiac women who believe in equal rights.

Note, that this brainiac supports the First Amendment and Milo's right to talk his trash on university campuses. Hiding in a safe zone does not help build the necessary skills to confront the Breitbart News crew, and our young students need to get tough and grow up. The Breitbart men are running the White House for heaven's sake. ~ Anne

Related: Milo Yiannopoulos Loses 'Dangerous' Book Deal & CPAC Speech. Is His Breitbart Job Also On The Line? AOC Women's News

Milo Yiannopoulos's Symphony of Victimhood The Daily Beast

Here's Why The World's Biggest Brands Are Blacklisting Breitbart BuzzFeed

Venice Biennale Explores Female Archetypes, Goddesses & Witches In Iraqi & Irish Pavillions

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Mother goddess, presumed to be a Fertility goddess. Returned from Holland in 2010. 5,000 BCE. Courtesy Iraq Museum; Department of Antiquities, Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities; and Ruya Foundation.

In an interesting juxtaposition of women's history and art and contemporary events, Iraq and Ireland are both channeling feminine archetypes at the 2017 Venice Biennale. 

Iraq

The Ruya Foundation, organizer of the Iraqi pavilion at Venice, is sending a total of 40 ancient Iraqi artifacts, some of them looted and now returned. The antiquities will reside alongside works by eight modern and contemporary Iraqi artists and a new commission by Francis Alÿs, who held art workshops at an Iraqi refugee camp last year.

The ambitious exhibition, titled “Archaic,” will inspire a dialogue between the modern and contemporary works and antiquities loaned by the Iraq Museum spanning six millennia, from the Neolithic Age to the Neo-Babylonian Period.

Ireland

Artist Jesse Jones will represent Ireland at the May 57th Venice Biennale, with her presentation 'Tremble Tremble', curated by Tessa Giblin. The 1970s chant was sung by women in the Italian Wages for Housework movement: “Tremate, tremate, le streghe sono tornate!” (tremble, tremble, the witches have returned!).

Even though the Catholic Church remains dominant in Ireland, there is a rising social movement demanding change between church and state. In 'Tremble, Tremble', the artist calls for a return of the witch as a "feminist archetype and disrupter" with an inherent ability to affect change. 

The artwork envisions a different legal order, "one in which the multitude are brought together in a symbolic, gigantic body, to proclaim a new law, that of 'In Utera Gigantae' writes ArtNet. 

Jones has researched the ways in which the law transmits memory over time, with a research combining an archeological dig of 3.5 million-year-old female specimen, the oppression of women during the 16th century witch trials, the symphysiotomy (a brutal form of caesarean) trials, and the legalisation of abortion in Ireland.

The film work takes testimony, statements, and written lyrics, blending them into a powerful incantation. The artist is collaborating with theatrical artist Olwen Fouéré and sound artist Susan Stenger to make an “expanded form of cinema.”

Jesse Jones, Tremble Tremble (2017) production image. Photo Ros Kavanagh.

Sheryl Sandberg & Elaine Wynn Each Donate $1 Million to Planned Parenthood | Dems Introduce HER Act Bill

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Sheryl Sandberg & Elaine Wynn Each Donate $1 Million to Planned Parenthood | Dems Introduce HER Act Bill

Two powerhouse -- Sheryl Sandberg and Elaine Wynn -- women have each made $1 million donations to Planned Parenthood. Sandberg has been criticized for not speaking out forcefully enough on core women's issues, especially issues that impact poor women.  The Facebook COO has apologized for not speaking out about the women's marches on January 21, 2017.